Prayer: Dependent Responsibility
40 Days of Prayer – Day 6 Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church Prayer has been somewhat of a mystery to me. The Bible says of God that, …even before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely... (Psalm 139:4). So, if God knows our thoughts as we formulate our prayers, even the words we are going to pray, what is the use of praying? Isn’t prayer an enterprise in futility? I would say, “of course not,” and an experience in the life of Israel as they were on their journey to the Promised Land gives us insight as to why. The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of your men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So, Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands up, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hand grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, and the other on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So, Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus 17:8-15 The Amalekites were a nomad group that roamed the plains of Caanan. When the people of Israel, several million strong, ventured into their territory, it was natural for them to consider this an intrusion of their land, so they responded accordingly and made war against Israel.
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